Rancho Cucamonga, CA Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Cats/dogs, lots under 10,000 sq ft
- 3 of each animal
- Cats/dogs, lots ≥10,000 sq ft
- 4 of each animal
- Small birds cap, largest lots
- 25 per lot
- Puppy/kitten exemption
- Exempt from cap until weaned at 4 months
- Governing table
- Development Code Table 17.88.020-1
Summary
Rancho Cucamonga caps household cats and dogs by lot size in every zone: 3 of each on lots under 10,000 square feet, rising to 4 of each on lots of 10,000 square feet or more, with combined pet types allowed if each meets its own minimum-lot-size rule.
Domestic Pets: Cats, All zones, 3, 3, 4, 4. Dogs, All zones, 3, 3, 4, 4. ... b. The overall maximum number of animals that can be kept on a property can be a combination of the permitted different animal group types provided that: i. The property complies with the minimum lot size requirement for each individual type of animal; and ii. The number of each individual type of animal does not exceed the maximum number of each type of animal(s) permitted on the property.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4999536; v21 updated 2026-07-15).
Full Breakdown
020 (Standards for Animal Keeping), lists cats and dogs as "Domestic Pets" permitted in all zones, capped at 3 cats and 3 dogs on lots under 10,000 square feet and 4 cats and 4 dogs on lots of 10,000 square feet or more; the same maximums apply on the intermediate 7,200-9,999 square-foot tier as on the under-7,200 tier for these two animal types. A separate limit covers pigeons, doves, parrots and other small birds: 5 on lots under 7,200 square feet, rising to 10, 20 and 25 as lot size increases, counted per lot regardless of species mix.
020(A)(1)(b) allows a property to combine different permitted animal types as long as the lot meets the minimum size for each type kept and the count of each individual type does not exceed its own table maximum, so a household is not limited to a single category. 020(A)(2). 020(D).
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the maximum number of cats or dogs allowed for a lot's size under Table 17.88.020-1, or allowing pet-related odor, noise or vermin conditions to be detected beyond the property line, is treated as a public nuisance subject to abatement, and a general code violation is prosecutable as a misdemeanor (up to $1,000 fine, up to six months in jail) or an infraction (fines from $100 up to $500 for repeat offenses) under Section 1.12.010.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many dogs or cats can I legally keep in Rancho Cucamonga?
Do my new litter of puppies count toward the pet limit?
Can I keep both cats and parrots at my house?
What happens if I have more pets than the code allows?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Rancho Cucamonga
California rules heatmap·Compare Rancho Cucamonga to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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Pet Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Bernardino County handle pet limits.